Textile treating process



{ my; "*Z Tfil Dec. 30, 1941. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,267,718

TEXTILE TREATING PROCESS Filed March 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l mmvroas. DOMLD J. CAMPBELL BYPRANCIS LEROYFENNELL ATTORNEY.

Dec. 30, 1941. D. .1. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,267,718

TEXTILE TREATING PROCESS Filed March 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvavroxs. 00mm J CAMPBELL FRAAf/S LEROY HEW/{ELL ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 30, 194i TEYTEJE TREATHQG PEGCESS Donald J. Campbell and Francis Le Roy Fenneli,

Niagara Fails, N. 11, assigncrs to 1. du Pont de Nemours a Company, Wilmington, B-eL, a

corporation or Delaware Application March as, 1929, Serial No. 26,872

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of textile goods and, more particularly, to the treatment of such goods with alkaline solutions, e. g. for the purpose of scouring, and to an apparatus especially well adapted for practicing this improved process.

Textile goods such as those of vegetable origin, especially such mamrials of cotton or containing relatively large amounts of cotton, are commonly treated with alkaline liquors for scouring purposes prior to the usual bleaching and/or dyeing operations. As generally practiced, such scouring treatments employ the use of kiers wherein the goods are heated over a period of several hours, e. g. 8. to 10 hours, while an alkaline liquor is circulated through the goods at a temperature of about 250 F. The purpose of such scouring treatment is to remove waxy or fatty impurities encrustlng the fibers so that the treated material becomes more absorbent and may be more readily bleached or dyed or treated otherwise as may be desired.

The normal kier boiling treatment obviously requires the use of large and pressure sustaining equipment, which as generally utilized requires the scouring treatment to be carried out by a batch method.

While the above mentioned kier boiling method is capable of producing excellent results insofar as scouring is concerned, there are certain very definite disadvantages characteristic of the method. Thus, a relatively' long time is required for the treatment, expensive pressure sustaining equipment must be used and, finally, such treatment cannot be used with all types of cotton goods since degradation of the more sensitive goods results from such drastic treatment.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide an improved method 0! treating textile goods with alkaline solutions whereby all or substantially all of the advantages obtainable by the usual kier boiling method may be realized, while at the same time permitting the obtainment of the desired results in a much shorter time. A further object is the provision of a method whereby treatment of such goods with alkaline aqueous solutions may be efiected at relatively low temperatures and at normal pressure without sacrificing the degree of absorbency required in the treated goods and with a substantlal saving in time and cost of apparatus over that required for the usual kler boiling method. A still further object is the provision of an apparatus particularly well suited for carrying out our present improved process, which apparatus is of relatively simple construction and permits of effecting the treatment in a continuous manner in contrast with the batch method of operation heretofore employed. The above and still turther objects will be apparent from the ensuing description of our invention.

The above objects may be accomplished in accordance with our invention by saturating or padding the goods to be treated with an alkaline solution of suitable alkalinity,.depending upon the goods being treated and the results desired, causing the wetted material to be contacted with steam momentarily whereby it is heated rapidly to an elevated temperature, and then storing the heated material in a compartment at a temperature sufilciently high to efiect the desired treatment. Preferably the process is operated in a. continuous manner. For the accomplishment of this the goods in continuous length form may be passed through a saturating vessel containing the alkaline solution and then continuously through a pair of squeeze rolls or a wringer for removing excess solution. The material is then passed through a steaming compartment wherein it is subjected to the action of steam at approximately the atmospheric boiling point of water and thus rapidly heated, for example, to a temperature approaching that of steam. From this steaming compartment the length of goods is passed into a storage compartment through which the rate.

of travel is adjusted so as to provide adequate time to permit the alkaline solution to effect the desired or a least a substantial action upon the goods while they are in this compartment. The goods, alter saturation with the alkaline solution and after being heated to the desired tempera.- ture by the action of steam, are stacked in this storage compartment in such a manner that they may be readily and continuously withdrawn from the compartment after having remained therein the required length or time. Preferably, the storage compartment is insulated against excessive heat loss so as to facilitate maintaining the goods therein at a temperature conducive to the obtainment of the desired action of the alkaline solution upon the goods being treated. This preferred method of operation may be better under stood by reference to the attached drawings which illustrate an apparatus well suited for practicing our invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevational view, certain parts being cut away so as to show various internal details, of one form of apparatus adapted for the present use. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with a few modifications which are pointed out fully in the following description. Figure 3 is a. cross sectional view of the steaming tube 2 of Figures 1 and 2, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modification of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, only the upper part of the apparatus being shown. Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the steaming compartment of Figure 4, taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 shows diagrammatically an assembly of the apparatus 0! Figures 1 and 2 in conjunction with a saturating bath for effecting satura tion of the goods and a washer for washing the treated goods as they emerge from the storage compartment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, l is a box constructed in the shape of a J and which will be referred to hereinafter as a J box. This J box is provided at its upper end with a steaming or heating tube 2 having apertured end caps 3. Tube 2 is also provided with steam inlets 4 through which tangential jets of steam are introduced into tube 2. The manner of attachment of steam inlets 4 to tube 2 so as to provide tangential jets of steam will be more apparent from the arrangement of inlets E with respect to tube 2 as shown in Figure 3. Tube 2 is further provided with drain tube for the escape of steam and condensate and also with a thermometer well 6. The cloth rope which passes through steam tube 2 and into the J box is indicated generally by the numeral 1. Caps 3 are provided with apertures 8 through which cloth rope i passes. After emergence of cloth rope I from steam tube 2 it passes through squeeze rolls 9 which serve as means for drawing the cloth through the steam tube. The J box is provided with a lower hinged cover H having opening l2 therein through which the cloth is withdrawn from the J box by means not shown in the drawings and also with an upper hinged cover It]. The lowest portion of the J box isprovided with a drain tube l3 having valve l4 therein.

The apparatus of Figure 2 diiiers slightly from that of Figure 1 in that in place of squeeze'rolls 9 there is provided a stacking means for stacking the cloth rope in a loose and orderly manner in the J box. This stacking means consists of a winch 18 which cooperates with travelling eye guide 18, so as to stack the cloth rope in amanner conforming roughly to the cross sectional shape of the vertical portion of the box. Winch I8 is caused to travel back and forth across the top of the J box as indicated generally by the arrows and the numerals l8 and [8a. Eye guide l9 travels backward and forward horiz'ontally in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of winch l8. Any suitable means commonly employed for such purpose may be used for effecting the desired movement of winch 18, no such means being shown in the drawings. Eye guide (9 is supported on travelling support 20, the latter being caused to travel back and forth upon track 2! by means of worm 22. It is evident that by coordinating the movements of eye guide l9 and winch l'8 the cloth rope, as it emerges from steam tube 2, may be stacked in a loose and orderly manner in the J box. Aside from its function in stacking the material in the J box, winch I8 serves to draw the cloth rope through steam tube 2 and thus function in the same manner as does the pair of squeeze rolls 9 in the apparatus of Figure 1.

The apparatus of Figure 2 also differs from that of Figure l in that each cap member 3 is provided with an inwardly extending annular portion i5 whose inner end i6 is flanged centrally with respect to annular portion I5 so as to provide openings II. In this modification each cap member 3 provides two openings, indicated by the numerals 8 and I1, through which the cloth rope passes, which arrangement provides better assurance against excessive loss of steam through the openings provided for the travel of the cloth. It should be remarked, however, that in neither of the modifications shown in Figure 1 and Figme 2 do the openings in end caps 3 provide an absolute seal against passage of steam therethrough. However, in normal operation of the apparatus but little steam will pass from steam tube 2 into the top of J box I.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 functions to heat the cloth in rope form rapidly to a temperature approximating that of the temperature of steam at atmospheric pressure and then permits the storage of the heated material initially saturated with the alkaline treating solution in a storage compartment for a predetermined length of time, during which time substantially all of the desired action of the alkali upon the goods is effected. Since an interval of only a fraction of a second, or at most no more than a few seconds, is required to heat the cloth by means of steam in accordance with our invention, it. is apparent that the time required for the alkaline treatment will correspond substantially to the time the cloth is maintained at a desired temperature in the storage compartment, which time may be regulated as desired.

Since storage of the saturated and heated goods in the storage compartment should be at an elevated temperature, J box I is preferably insulated in order that the heated goods will not be cooled to a temperature below the desired temperature prior to completion of the action of the alkaline solution. We have found that a J box consisting of a wooden shell, shown as element 23 in Figure 2, provides adequate insulation against heat loss for normal operation. In the preferred form the J box is provided with an inner metal lining 24 which exposes a smooth surface to the cloth and is preferably made of a corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel. If desired, the J box may be provided with an outer heating jacket, e. g. a heated water jacket for maintaining the temperature within the box as desired, or the J box may be provided with other means for conserving heat therein.

Instead of a cylindrical steaming tube such as element 2 of Figures 1 and 2, a steaming tube of rectangular shape may be employed as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the latter figures 2. rectangular shaped steam box Ell is provided with a plurality of steam inlets 5| and with steam and condensate outlet 52. Steam inlets 5! are preferably provided with baflie plates 58 adapted to prevent direct impingement of the incoming steam upon the cloth. Numeral 53 indicates a thermometer well. The ends of steam box 50 are provided with slots 54 through which cloth strip 55 may be passed in open width. Steam box 50 is preferably built integral with the upper part of a J box 5'! or other suitable storage compartment. Only the upper part of the storage compartment 57 is shown, which part is provided with a hinged cover 68 and consists of an outer wooden shell 59 having an inner metal lining 60. as is the case in the apparatus of Figure 2. The length of open width cloth 55 is drawn through steam chamber 56 by means of winch 6! which is provided with means not shown for moving the winch back and forth across the top of the box e. g. between the positions El and Bid as indicated by the arrows. It is seen that winch 6! has two functions, 1. e. to draw the cloth through the steaming compartment and also to stack the cloth in the storage compartment.

Whether or not the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 or that/of Figures 4 and 5 should be employed will depend upon the cloth being treated and also upon the uniformity of the results de- 'sired. The apparatus of Figures 4 and permits the passage of cloth in open width form through the apparatus which facilitates a more rapid and uniform heating of the goods. This may be desirable in some circumstances. In general, however, excellent and uniform heating may be obtained using the cylindrical steaming tube of Figures 1 and 2. Results of practical trials have indicated that with cloth rope of 1 inches in diameter substantially instantaneous and uniform heating to the desired temperature is readily obtained.

A plan view of an entire assembly for the use of the described apparatus is illustrated in Figure 6. As shown in the drawings the cloth in continuous length is caused to travel through a saturating bath containing the alkaline treating liquor and then through the steamer and J cloth will be accomplished if the rate of travel of the goods through the steam tube is such that a given point of the strip will be contacted with the steam for a period of time on the order of one second. This time interval obviously may vary considerably depending upon the tym of goods being treated and other obvious factors. but rarely will a period longer than about 1 to seconds be required.

Apertured end cap members 3 of Figures 1 and 2 constitute in efiect constrictions of the steaming tube 2. Instead of the structure shown consisting of these end caps, the steaming tube of our apparatus may be constricted in any desired manner so as to provide openings therein 'corresponding to apertures 8 and H through box, after which it is passed through 9, washer,

the latter being of any type conventionally used in textile treating processes. Prior to passage into the saturating bath the clothstrip is drawn through guide eye H which shapes the strip into the form of a rope 10. The rope passes into the saturating solution and under guide roll 12 located therein. Squeeze rolls 13 express excess solution from the saturated goods and guide eye 14 serves to direct the cloth rope into the steaming chamber through which it then passes into the storage compartment. The treated rope is withdrawn from the J box or storage compartment by means of winch 15 after having passed over guide roll '16. From winch 15 the cloth passes through the washer which consists of three washing compartments indicated by numerals l2, l8 and IS, the first of which contains a soap solution, the second a hot water rinse and the third 9. cold water rinse. The washer is indicated generally as including two long squeeze rolls 80 through which the cloth rope I0 is threaded so as to cause loops of rope to clip a number of times into each washing compartment prior to emergence from the washer. Other types of washers may be employed and instead of the particular washing solutions indicated, other solutions such as a souring solution may be used in one or more of the washing compartments.

Cloth rope I, while passing through apertures 8 in end caps 3 of Figure 1 or apertures 8 and ll of Figure 2 functions as a seal to prevent excessive escape of steam from the ends of the steam tube. Cloth strip 55 acts in a similar manner in preventing escape of steam from slots 54 in the end walls of steam chamber 50 of Figures 4 and 5. It should be noted that the steam chamber in all of the modifications of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings is at all times open to the atmosphere so that the steam in contact with the goods is never at a temperature higher than substantially the atmospheric boiling point of water. This means that the cloth is never heated to a temperature above that temperature. We have discovered that the cloth may be heated rapidly and substantially uniformly in this manner when a steam tube of sufficient length is utilized. For fabrics of normal weight a cloth rope of about 1.5 inches in diameter may be effectively heated to substantially the temperature of steam at atmospheric pressure during passage through a steam tube approximately 6 inches in diameter and 6 feet long when passage through the tube is at the rate of 100 to 150 yards per minute. In general adequate heating of the continuous length of which the continuous length of goods passes so as to provide an effective seal again excessive loss of steam at the points of constriction. Constriction at the desired point may be accomplished merely by shrinking the diameter of the tube, by inserting apertured plugs into the tube, or by any other equivalent manner. Instead of a simple steaming tube with steam inlets and outlets as shown in the drawings, the walls of the tube may be perforated and provided with an outer jacket into which the steam is initially passed. Obviously the number of steam inlets and/or steam outlets employed may be varied as desired. Still other modifications of the apparatus will be obvious to those skilled in the use of apparatus for treating textile materials.

It will be evident from the present description that our improved process offers several distinct advantages over the previously known methods for treating goods with alkaline solutions employing the usual kier. Thus, when the alkaline treatment is primarily for the purpose of scouring, a distinct advantage of our process over the conventional kier boiling method is that it may be practiced in a continuous manner. It should be noted in this connection that in the present process the goods being treated are passed through the treating solution whereas in the kier boiling method the treating solution is forced through a large bulk of the goods. The passage of the goods being treated through the treating solution in accordance with our invention facilitates the obtainment of more uniform final results. A still further and very important advantage is the fact that substantially the same or superior results may be realized in our process in a much shorter period of time. Thus, while the usual kier boiling treatment requires a time of from 8 to 10 hours or more, excellent results may he obtained by the present method in a time no longer than about 1 to 2 hours, 1 to 1 /2 hours being generally sufiicient. This is indeed surprising when it is noted that the kier boiling method requires a substantially higher temperature of operation than required in the present method. The above advantages, together with the fact that the present method does not require the use of equipment capable of withstanding super-atmospheric pressures, render the present improved method distinctly superior to the ordinary kier boiling method.

Generally, the purpose of treating textile goods of vegetable origin such as cotton and the like, with alkaline solutions, is to remove from the fibers of said goods waxy and fatty incrustations so that subsequent treatment of the goods will be facilitated. Thus, cotton goods which are to be bleached, dyed, or otherwise treated with liquid treating agents, are normally kier boiled so as to increase their absorbency. If .the alkaline treatment is not uniform throughout the entire goods being treated, subsequent bleaching, dyeing or other operations will not give uniform final results. Accordingly, it is especially desirable that the alkaline treatment be uniform.

V This required uniformity and high absorbency is attained to an unusually high degree by means of the present method, in spite of the fact that the method requires but a relatively low temperature and a short time of treatment.

Our process may be practiced employing alkaline solutions containing alkali in amounts within wide limits, .the upper limit being substantially below alkali concentrations which produce mercerization. Thus, when thorough and vigorous scouring is desired the alkaline solution may advantageously contain alkali in an amount corresponding to about 1 to 6% of caustic soda by weight of the treating solution. On the other hand, treatment with such concentrated solutions may be undesirable if the goods being treated are sensitive to such relatively strongly akaline solutions. Thus, when scouring goods containing dyed yarn, alkaline solutions containing considerably less alkali should be employed. In general, it may be said that the alkaline solutions employed may contain alkali in amounts corresponding to a pH of about 10 up to amounts corresponding to 6% of caustic soda by weight of the solution. For more drastic treatment, solutions of 14% give very satisfactor-y results. Obviously the use of the less alkaline solutions within the range indicated above will produce less severe scouring which, as indicated, will be desirable in some instances where a mild scouring treatment is desired. Thus fabrics containing wool, silk, acetate rayon or dyed fibers will generally require the use of such less alkaline solutions.

In addition to regulating the strength of the alkaline solution to correspond to the sensitivity of the goods being treated it may be desirable under some circumstances to employ less drastic temperature treatment than in others. If a relatively low temperature of operation is desired for a particular type of goods being treated the length of the steaming tube may be decreased and/or the rate of passage of the goods through the steaming tube may be increased so that the goods are not contacted with the steam a suflicient length of time to raise the temperature of the goods to the temperature of the steam. Obviously by choosing conditions which permit the proper time of contact of the goods with the steam it will be possible to heat the goods to substantially any desired temperature up to the temperature of the steam. Normally there will be no advantage in employing temperatures below about 120 F. We have found that operation so that the goods may be stored after heating at a temperature within the range 120 to 200 F. will meet substantially all of the requirements regardless of the type of goods being treated. When a relatively drastic scouring treatment is desired it is preferable to permit the goods to be heated in the steaming tube to substantially the temperature of the steam and then store the goods at a temperature within the range of 160 to 190 F.

Any of the commonly employed alkaline agents may be used with good efiect in the present process. For normal operation we prefer employing caustic soda. However, other alkaline agents such as caustic potash, soda ash, borax, sodium silicate and the like, used alone or in combination with each other, may be used in accordance with our invention.

Textile goods in general, including those made from both natural and artificial fimrs, may be treated in accordance with our method. Such goods include those fabricated from cotton, regenerated cellulose, acetate rayon, silk, linen, wool and the like or mixtures thereof. Our process is especially well suited for treating goods which are to be subjected to subsequent bleaching or dyeing operations. In this connection it may be remarked that when the goods are to be bleached and when but mild scouring is required it is possible to combine the bleaching and scouring operations into a single treatment. Thus, the treating liquor containing alkali in an amount corresponding to a pH of about 10 to 12 may also contain a peroxygen compound such as hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent and the goods then treated by means of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings so that combined alkali and bleaching action is obtained in one operation. If full scouring of the goods is required the goods may be first treated with, e. g. an alkaline solution containing l-6% and preferably 1--4% of caustic soda as described above, this scouring treatment being followed by a second treatment employing a solution having a pH of 10 to 12 and containing hydrogen peroxide in an amount corresponding to about 0.3 to 0.6% by weight. This manner of treatment produces material of high uniform whiteness having an unusually high degree of absorbency.

It may be advantageous in some instances to add to the alkaline treating liquor a wetting agent since the use of such agent facilitates rapid wetting of the goods with the treating solution. However, the use of a wetting agent is not essential and very satisfactory results have been obtamed using solutions containing no added wetting agent. Also, instead of padding, wetting, or saturating the goods with the alkaline treating solution at ordinary temperatures it is within the scope of our invention to contact the goods with the alkaline solution at temperatures considerably above normal temperatures. Thus, the solution may be employed at any temperature up to substantially the boiling temperature of water. However, since the method of heating the wetted goods described above may be practiced effectively with relatively small consumption of steam, there is generally no particular advantage in heating the treating solution prior to its use in wetting the goods. All that is required is that the goods be thoroughly wetted with the alkaline solution prior to heating by means of steam. Thorough wetting of the goods may be accomplished by saturating the goods followed by removing excess solution therefrom or by any other convenient means. When the goods are saturated by passage through a saturating bath as illustrated in the drawings, we find that using a solution containing from 1-6% by weight of alkali the goods should retain an amount of treating liquor corresponding roughly from to of the weight of the goods. However, greater or lesser quantities of the treating liquor may be retained in the goods depending upon the particular treatment desired and upon the strength of the treating liquor. Also, our method is not restricted to a one-pass method of operation since it may be desirable in certain i stances to subject the goods to a plurality of treatments in which the successive treatm may be the same or may vary as reg the tem perature of operation, the time and temperature of treatment and the particular agents in addition to alkali contained in the treating liquor.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art of treating textile materials that various modifications of our process and apparatus as described above may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. Thus, various means may be employed for removing excess treating liquor from the saturated goods and various means may be used for zigzagging the cloth rope in the J box during the stacking operation. Furthermore, modifications other than those shown in the drawings may be effective as regards the steaming chamber since the apparatus is not restricted to any particular shape or size of the steaming chamber, it being only necessary that a chamber be provided wherein the goods being treated may be contacted momentarily with steam at substantially atmospheric pressure so as to be heated rapidly to the desired temperature. The feature of the steaming tube consisting of the apertured end caps through which the continuous length of goods is passed may be modified considerably. The size of the apertures is not especially critical and instead of using 1 or 2 such apertures in each cap several may be employed. Other features such as the shape of the storage compartment, the type of washer used and other features of various parts of the apparatus may be modified as desired. It should be understood that the procedural details and description of the apparatus as set forth above are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive of our invention. The invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of treating textile goods with an alkaline solution comprising wetting said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution, subjecting said wetted goods to the action of steam at a temperature not higher than substantially the atmospheric boiling temperature of water whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and thereafter maintaining said goods at a temperature of about 120 to 200 F. both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam for a period of time during which said goods are acted upon by said aqueous alkaline solution.

2. A method of treating textile goods of vegetable origin with an alkaline solution comprising wetting said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution, subjecting said wetted goods to the action of steam at a temperature not higher than substantially the atmospheric boiling tempera:

ture of water whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and thereafter maintaining said goods at a temperature of about 160 to 190 F. both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam for a period of time during which said goods are acted upon by said aqueous alkaline solution.

3. A method of treating cotton goods with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising saturating said goods with said alkaline solution and removing excess solution from said goods. subjecting said wetted goods to the action of steam at a temperature not higher than substantially the atmospheric boiling temperature of water whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and thereafter maintaining said goods at a temperature of about to 200 F. both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam for a period of time during which said goods are acted upon by said aqueous alkaline solution.

4. A method of treating cotton goods with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising wetting said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution containing alkali in an amount corresponding to not more than about 6% by weight of caustic soda and not less than an amount corresponding to a pH of about 10, subjecting said wetted goods to the action of steam at substantially atmospheric pressure whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and thereafter maintaining said goods at a temperature of about 120 to 200 F. both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam for a period of time during which said goods are acted upon by said aqueous alkaline solution.

5. A method of treating cotton goods with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising wetting said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution containing alkali in an amount corresponding to l to 4% by weight of caustic soda, subjecting said wetted goods to the action of steam at substantially atmospheric pressure whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and thereafter maintaining said goods at a temperature of about 120 to 200 F. both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam for a period of time during which said goods are acted upon by said aqueous alkaline solution.

6. A continuous method of treating textile goods with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising wetting a continuous length of said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution containing alkali in an amount corresponding to not more than about 6% by weight of caustic soda and not less than an amount corresponding to a pH of about 10, continuously subjecting said continuous length of goods to the action of steam at substantially atmospheric pressure whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and continuously passing said goods through a. storage compartment both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam while maintaining said goods at a temperature of 120 to 200 F at such a rate that the alkali treatment of said goods will be substantially complete when said goods are discharged from said compartment.

"7. A continuous method of treating textile goods with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising wetting a continuous length of said goods with an aqueous alkaline solution containing alkali in an amount corresponding to l to 4% by weight of caustic soda, continuously subjecting said continuous length of goods to the action of steam' at substantially atmospheric pressure whereby said goods are rapidly heated, and continuously passing said goods through a storage compartment both out of contact with the main body of alkaline solution and substantially out of contact with steam while maintaining said goods at a temperature of 120 to 200 F. at such a rate that the alkali treatment of said goods will be substantially complete when said goods are discharged from said compartment.

DONALD J. CAMPBELL. FRANCIS LE ROY FENNELL. 

